Most to-do lists don’t fail because they’re too long. They fail because they’re too vague.
- “Cameron email.”
- “Budget.”
- “Podcast stuff.”
Those aren’t tasks. They’re reminders that something exists. And reminders create friction—especially when you’re tired, rushed, or returning to the list hours (or days) later.
That’s why I’ve long recommended verbifying your tasks—an idea I shared in a HuffPost piece on common to-do list mistakes.
The shift is simple, but it matters. Instead of writing:
You write:
- Pull last quarter’s sales numbers for Cameron
Same outcome. Completely different experience.
Why Verbs Change Everything
A verb does two quiet but important things:
- It removes ambiguity. You no longer have to decide what the task actually means when you’re ready to do it. The decision has already been made.
- It creates motion. Verbs imply action. They invite movement instead of hesitation.
I often explain it this way: Imagine you had to hand that task to someone else. Would they know exactly what to do?
Your future self is that someone else.
When you start a task with a verb, you’re giving that future version of you a gift: less confusion, fewer false starts, and more flow.
From Remembering to Doing
This is a subtle but important distinction. A vague task forces you to rethink before you can act. A verbified task lets you begin immediately.
And when enough tasks on your list are clear, actionable, and concrete, the list stops feeling like a source of pressure—and starts functioning like what it was always meant to be: A trusted guide for your attention.
If your list feels sticky or resistant lately, don’t overhaul the system. Just change the language.
Start with a verb.
